Glass balusters can be a good choice around a deck or patio on the exterior of your home. They offer a wide range of desirable traits, including the fact that their transparent design allows you to clearly see your yard beyond or below where you sit. If you're speaking to a contractor about installing glass balusters, one of the decisions that you'll need to make is how much of a gap you want between each of them. While a layout in which the gaps are small might seem appealing visually, here are some reasons that wider openings can be a good choice.
They Allow For Air Flow
Wider openings between your glass balusters provide a higher degree of airflow than when the gaps are narrow. If you're sitting on the deck or balcony on a hot day, you want to feel some degree of breeze. Balusters that are positioned close together will not allow much air through. Conversely, those that have larger gaps between them are conducive to the flow of air. This can especially be appealing if you're sitting on the floor of the deck or balcony, as you won't be in a position to feel the breeze blowing over the top rail.
They're Animal Friendly
If you have a dog or cat, it might frequently enjoy sitting on the deck or balcony with you. Often, animals will stick their heads through the gaps between balusters to watch the activity in the yard — much like how a dog enjoys sticking its head out the car window. If the pieces are too close together, your pet might not be able to stick its head through. This might cause it to get agitated and perhaps even claw at the glass. With wider gaps, this won't be an issue. Of course, you'll want to choose a gap width that is safe for your pets. If you're adding glass balusters to a second-level balcony, the gaps shouldn't be so large that a pet can slip through.
They May Be More Affordable
Larger gaps between the pieces of glass may reduce the overall cost of this project. When you opt for smaller gaps, you end up needing more balusters to stretch around the perimeter of the deck or balcony. Larger gaps, meanwhile, result in the purchase of fewer balusters, as well as a shorter installation time — resulting in cheaper labor costs. If you love the look of glass balusters but you need to keep your project within a certain budget, larger gaps may suit you.
To learn more about glass baluster railings, contact a deck contract in your area.